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There is a more than average amount of uncertainty in the world right now, and I know for many of us this requires a lot of resilience, fortitude and new ways of staying focused. We have lots of resources available in these moments and this includes our , Advisor to Staff, your managers, friends and broader networks, as well as colleagues. I have certainly been relying on the latter a lot as of late.

I have also been thinking about the things that don’t change; the things that are certain for us here at ANU.

Read more: ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ update: What remains unchanged

Last Wednesday, ANU officially opened the Lowitja O’Donoghue Cultural Centre to honour the extraordinary life and legacy of Yankunytjatjara woman, the late Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG. The event was attended by Her Excellency the Hon Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, alongside members of Dr O’Donoghue’s family and the ANU community. 

Dr O’Donoghue is the first Aboriginal person to be recognised with the naming of a building at ANU. Her lifelong dedication to the health, education, and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has left a lasting impact on the nation. 

The Vice-Chancellor described the naming as a tribute to Dr O’Donoghue’s courage, grace and commitment to driving lasting change. Ms Deb Edwards, Dr O’Donoghue’s niece and Head of the Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation, reflected on the family’s pride in seeing her legacy honoured through a space where community can gather, connect and celebrate culture. 

The Lowitja O’Donoghue Cultural Centre is the third building named after women as part of the ANU building renaming initiative, joining the and the . 

The Recruitment Approval Committee (RAC) will review Voluntary Separation Scheme (VSS) expressions of interest (EOIs) this Wednesday 26 March, with outcomes communicated from next Monday 31 March. 

EOIs for roles considered essential to the ANU mission may not be supported, and managers will relay these decisions directly to affected staff. 

With the return for 2025 and Semester 1, the chart above shows an expected increase in annual leave for March. The reduction in leave since November 2024 had a positive impact on our final 2024 result and has ensured a positive start in 2025.

As part of Renew ANU and our commitment to financial sustainability, we are actively working to reduce operational costs across the University. One key focus area is travel, where we have already achieved significant savings. 

From January to February 2025, overall travel approvals have reduced by 20 per cent with a 31 per cent decrease ($1.4M) in approved travel spend compared to 2024. The below table demonstrates the budgeted financial savings achieved: 

To further enhance cost efficiency and help streamline the travel booking process, a new travel provider will soon be introduced with the new system expected to be rolled out in mid-May. Key benefits of the new provider include greater access to best-in-market airfares, including ANU commercial agreements, lower and more competitive booking fees and new technology for a better approval and booking experience through a Travel Approval System, replacing the current e-Form.

Thank you to all of our staff who have worked to reduce our overall travel spend.

ANU has active research grants funded by the US government across several colleges and is one of several Australian institutions affected by the US government's "America First" agenda. This has led to increased scrutiny and funding cancellations for Australian research. We understand the uncertainty this may cause and are working closely with affected researchers to provide support and develop appropriate remediation plans. While the full impact is unclear, we remain committed to delivering distinctive research and supporting our staff through these challenges. If you need support, please contact Chief.RI@anu.edu.au.

ANU is assessing reports of an alleged Oracle Cloud breach. At this stage, we have no indication that our Oracle Cloud environment has been compromised or impacted. 

While Oracle denies any breach, a preliminary review suggests Australian and New Zealand domains are implicated. ANU is monitoring for risks, implementing precautionary measures and collaborating with cybersecurity peers to ensure the security of its systems.

Professor Donald Butler from the was appointed to the under the federal Environment Protection & Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Donald is one of Australia’s leading ecologists and biographers working to support evidence-based solutions to key challenges in landscape management and biodiversity conservation through policy, regulation and market-based incentives.   

Congratulations to Donald on this outstanding achievement—we look forward to following his continued impact on environment and policy laws. 

It is with great sadness we share the news that our colleague Margaret Eichholzer passed away on 6 January. Margaret was the Manager of the Crawford School of Public Policy, a role she held from 2014 until her retirement in 2018. Margaret served the university in multiple roles since 1994 and made major contributions to cross-university committees and working groups on a wide variety of topics.  

In 2022, Margaret was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her lifetime of dedication to the administration of education and research in Australia. This award acknowledged Margaret’s contributions to ANU but also her many years of education focused community and voluntary work. Margaret is survived by her husband John, her four sons and their partners, and her five grandchildren.

Thursday 27 March, 10am-12pm 

This workshop run by the Inclusive and Respectful Communities team will deepen your understanding of how some harmful behaviours are expressed in our educational institutions, workplaces and communities. It will explore experiences of gender-based violence, queerphobia and racial microaggressions and will provide practical skills and strategies for intervening in the systems, structures and behaviours that may normalise or foster harm.  

 

Wednesday 2 April, 4-5pm 

The Sabah dispute between the Philippines and Malaysia originated from historical claims by the Philippines over territory that was previously a British crown colony and then became part of the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. In this seminar, Dr Sue Thompson from the in the will untangle the history of the dispute by exploring its narratives, historical contexts and broader implications.

 

Thursday 3 April, 6-8.30pm 

The Planetary Health Equity Hothouse is hosting a screening of the documentary Purpose, which asks: what is the purpose of our economies and how can we change them? The film follows two individuals — Katherine Trebeck and Lorenzo Fioramonti — who develop ground-breaking political projects in order to shift our economic systems away from endless GDP growth, towards what really matters for people and the planet. They envision a world where we no longer serve the economy, but the economy serves us.  

Thursday 3 April, 9.30am-4.30pm 

Gain essential skills to improve your project management workflow. In this hands-on workshop you will learn to define projects, effectively explain projects to colleagues, initiate projects using a work breakdown structure and constructively close off projects upon their completion. 

Monday 7 April, 6-7pm 

Join acclaimed historian Joan Beaumont as she discusses her powerful new book, Gull Force: Australian POWs on Ambon and Hainan, 1941–45, with Professor Christina Twomey. Delving into the harrowing experiences of Australian soldiers in captivity, this conversation sheds light on one of World War II’s most tragic and overlooked stories. Books available for signing from 5.30pm. 
 

Thursday 10 April, 6-7pm  

Journalist and proud Gamilaroi woman Brooke Boney joins Virginia Haussegger to discuss her deeply personal and thought-provoking new book, All of It. Through a collection of witty and heartfelt essays, Boney explores love, loss, ambition, and the complexities of public and private life. Don’t miss this insightful conversation with one of Australia’s most compelling voices. Books available for signing from 5.30pm. 
 

 

Electric vehicle (EV) charging at ANU just got easier. Five new chargers have been installed at the Fulton Muir Building, expanding the University’s charging network and supporting the transition to sustainable transport. 

This rollout builds on a program that began in 2024, providing greater access to EV charging for staff and students and driving ANU towards a low-carbon future. 

 

ANU is offering free flu vaccinations to support staff health and wellbeing during the upcoming flu season. Vaccinations are available on campus at the ANU Medical Centre (by appointment) and ANU Pharmacy (walk-in), or off campus at Terry White Chemists using a voucher (available in HORUS from April 2025).  

 

Academic promotions are an important milestone. Gain advice on the academic promotion process, including how to prepare a case, write the application and approach the interview. Information sessions will be held on Tuesday 1 April (in-person), Thursday 3 April (online via zoom) and Thursday 10 April (in-person, women-only). 

Information sessions will be hosted by Professor Rebekah Brown, Provost and Senior Vice-President and Chair of the University Promotion Committee, and will include an opportunity for Q&A. For all enquiries relating to the information sessions, please contact academicpromotions@anu.edu.au.

ANU recognises that many staff have caring responsibilities that may impact their access to opportunities for the development of their careers. The Carers’ Career Development Assistance Fund (CCDAF) offers grants of up to $2,000 to help cover additional care costs to help take up career opportunities. If you need support to attend a key conference, workshop or symposium, apply for a CCDAF grant today. For queries contact HRD.Development@anu.edu.au. 

Round 1 applications close Friday 4 April, 5pm.  

 

Ever wondered why your Wi-Fi slows down or disconnects unexpectedly? Wi-Fi interference happens when other wireless signals or physical barriers disrupt your connection—think of it as static for the internet. 

Common causes include nearby networks, personal hotspots (a no-go in crowded lecture halls) and obstacles like walls or appliances. Even everyday electronics, such as microwaves and Bluetooth devices, may interfere with Wi-Fi performance. 

We’re working hard to upgrade our campus Wi-Fi, so you can stay connected with less interference.  

ANU Security - (02) 6125 2249 

For life threatening emergencies first call 000 (or 0000 if dialing from an internal phone), then call ANU Security.  

Media hotline 24/7 - (02) 6125 7979 

Contact the 24/7 media hotline for media queries regarding the University and its operations, or to track down experts that aren’t listed in our .  

Help is available if you need it. Whether it's a work-related issue or a personal one, the University encourages you to seek support through the .

If you need to support a student in distress, please refer to developed by the Student Safety and Wellbeing team.